Immigration & Diversity news headlines – March 2, 2012

Ontario Developing ‘First-ever’ Immigration Strategy (Ontario News)To help build a stronger economy, Ontario will develop its first-ever immigration strategy. A new expert roundtable, led by Julia Deans, will help develop the strategy and examine ways that immigration can best support Ontario’s economic development and help new Ontarians find jobs. Ontario remains the number one destination for newcomers to Canada yet it is the only province currently without an immigration agreement with the federal government. The new provincial immigration strategy will help to inform and shape discussions with the federal government towards an agreement.http://news.ontario.ca/mci/en/2012/03/ontario-developing-first-ever-immigration-strategy.html

Congratulations to former CivicAction CEO, Julia Deans on appointment to chair provincial Expert Roundtable on Immigration (CivicAction)Julia will lead this expert panel roundtable which will help develop Ontarios first-ever immigration strategy to examine ways that immigration can best support Ontario’s economic development and help new Ontarians find jobs. Julias extensive involvement with the issue of immigration as well as her incredible ability to convene leaders and to inspire thought leadership and collective action will undoubtedly be an asset in the role.http://www.civicaction.ca/congratulations-former-civicaction-ceo-julia-deans-appointment-chair-provincial-expert-roundtable-im

Minister Kenney outlines vision of a fast and flexible immigration system (CIC)In a keynote address to the National Metropolis Conference today, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney outlined his vision for a faster, more responsive immigration system that better meets Canadas economic needs.http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2012/2012-03-01.asp

A new immigration point system for Canada starts in 2012 (Nicholas Keung, Toronto Star)A revised points-based selection grid will be introduced to favour young immigrants with strong language skills, says federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. Prospective immigrants in licensed professions will need to be pre-assessed to ensure they are likely to get certification in Canada before their applications are processed, Kenney said in Toronto at the annual gathering of Metropolis, an immigration research network that is about to lose its federal funding.http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1139550–a-new-immigration-point-system-for-canada-starts-in-2012

Employers could bump up prospects in immigration overhaul (CTV)Immigration Minister Jason Kenney outlined his vision Thursday for a faster immigration system that would allow employers a greater say in selecting new Canadians. “Immigration is playing an increasingly important role in our economy and we need a system that does a better job of attracting the people who have the skills that are in demand and getting them here quickly,” Kenney said in the keynote address to the National Metropolis Conference in Toronto. “We have made some great strides towards an immigration system that is fast and flexible, but know that there is more work to do.”http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20120301/immigration-overhaul-120201

Kenney pushes greater private sector role in immigrant selection (Peter O’Neil, Edmonton Journal)Immigration Minister Jason Kenney raised the spectre of European-style tensions over multiculturalism in Canada Thursday while proposing measures to boost the economic prospects of new Canadians. His proposals include a greater private sector role in immigrant selection and, in a move one immigration lawyer said would be controversial, more emphasis on the English or French proficiency of immigrants spouses. He also elaborated on his recent warning to provincial governments such as Alberta and British Columbia that he wont expand the provincial nominee program until that program is reformed.http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Kenney+pushes+greater+private+sector+role+immigrant+selection/6237147/story.html

In one Richmond neighbourhood, 80 per cent of residents are immigrants (Chad Skelton, Vancouver Sun)The Richmond neighbourhood south of Lansdowne Centre has more immigrants per capita than any other place in Metro Vancouver, according to census data. Based on data from the 2006 census, about 40 per cent of Metro Vancouver residents were born in another country. But in one part of Richmond east of No. 3 road, between Granville and Lansdowne that figure is twice as high, with 82 per cent of residents identifying themselves as immigrants.http://www.vancouversun.com/Richmond+neighbourhood+cent+residents+immigrants/6235762/story.html

Hail to the police chief for standing up for openness (Montreal Gazette Editorial)Since his appointment the year before last, Montreal police chief Marc Parent has shown an encouraging preoccupation with improving relations between the police and the public they serve. He has taken steps to streamline the forces administrative structure, sharpened the focus on community policing and discouraged the racial profiling that sowed poisonous mistrust of the police among the citys visible minorities.http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Editorial+Hail+police+chief+standing+openness/6236465/story.html

The municipal role in immigrant settlement (Amarjeet Sohi, Edmonton City Councillor)On February 16, Edmonton took advantage of a valuable opportunity to contribute its perspectives to an ongoing conversation about immigration and settlement across the country. The President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) was in Edmonton, and so my colleagues (Councillors Karen Leibovici and Ben Henderson) and I hosted a dialogue between FCM and over sixty Edmonton community leaders, to discuss the roles municipalities should play in supporting successful immigrant settlement.http://sohi.ca/home/comments/the_municipal_role_in_immigrant_settlement

A foot in the door (Erin McCracken – Victoria News)After a year spent pounding the pavement in the frustrating hunt for steady work, Isaac Rosas Bermuduz got his big break with a good news email and phone call from CFB Esquimalt. Rosas Bermuduz and his wife were overcome with emotion. A great relief, let me tell you, Rosas Bermuduz said of securing casual administrative employment at the bases Fleet Maintenance Facility. I immediately called my wife. We started crying. It was a great blessing. The Victoria resident, who arrived from Vera Cruz, Mexico almost six years ago, was one of two newcomers to Canada hired last October as part of the new Federal Internship for Newcomers program.http://www.goldstreamgazette.com/news/140961113.html

REFUGEES

Welcome to Canada unless we change our mind (Montreal Gazette Editorial)A refugee bill introduced last week in Parliament might well help streamline Canadas cumbersome refugee-determination process, but along with the bills positive measures are some potentially worrisome changes. One such change would allow the federal government to strip people of their permanent-residency status if it determines that the country from which they fled is now safe to return to.http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Editorial+Welcome+Canada+unless+change+mind/6236399/story.html

POVERTY / HEALTH / HOMELESSNESS / SOCIAL INCLUSION

“Nothing For A Rainy Day” (CBC Metro Morning)This week is the cut-off for RRSP contributions. For many older workers, that deadline is NOT their problem. Many experienced workers who’ve lost their jobs are having trouble finding full-time work — never mind setting aside money to retire. Mary Wiens brings us some of those stories in our series “Nothing for a Rainy Day: Older Workers in Ontario”http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/columnists/mary-wiens/2012/03/01/nothing-for-a-rainy-day/

Finley hints phase-in for OAS reform will be much longer than a decade (Heather Scoffield, The Canadian Press)Raising the age of entitlement for OAS implies raising the age for GIS. That’s a problem, experts say, because many low-income seniors would have a hard time staying in the workforce an extra couple of years and making ends meet. “It’s going to be hard on low-income seniors in particular,” says Ken Battle, president of the Caledon Institute of Social Policy. If the federal government took no action on low-income seniors, the provincial welfare rolls would likely swell and poverty would mount, experts warn.http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/business/finley-hints-phase-in-for-oas-reform-will-be-much-longer-than-a-decade-141091123.html

Solutions for an aging society (Jason Clemens & Brian Lee Crowley, National Post)The Macdonald-Laurier Institute recently published essays by some of the countrys leading economic thinkers on ways in which we should proactively respond to the coming costs of an aging society. Many of their recommendations focus on promoting growth and productivity… Finally, immigration reform was a popular theme. Our authors wanted: (a) better credential recognition for newcomers; (b) an easier process for private companies to bring in needed foreign workers; and (c) a shift in emphasis to work-related immigration, rather than family re-unification. More immigrants with more skills can make a real contribution to growth.http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2012/03/01/jason-clemens-brian-lee-crowley-solutions-for-an-aging-society/

The Conference Board Human Capital in Review: Focus on Diversity & Inclusion (Vol. 2, No. 1, 2012) (Conference Board of Canada)This second issue of The Conference Board Human Capital in Review: Focus on Diversity & Inclusion features recent articles on:
attracting, retaining, and advancing women including on corporate boards;
the business case as well as the return on investment of hiring employees with disabilities;
measuring elements like employer efforts to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or assessing organizational commitment to D&I;
the growing need to address religion in the workplace;
the rising interest in the role of the father as caregiver; and
the impact of humor, gender, and perceived leader effectiveness in China.http://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-Library/abstract.aspx?did=4717

Mistreatment Of Temporary Foreign Workers In Canada: Overcoming Regulatory Barriers And Realities On The Ground (Edited by
Eugénie Depatie-Pelletier and Khan Rahi, Quebec Metropolis Centre)
: This publication is a follow-up initiative of the workshop Temporary Worker Programs and Citizenship in Canada: Are restrictions of rights and freedoms for “Low-Skilled” workers demonstrably justified in a free democratic society?, organized by Eugénie Depatie-Pelletier and Khan Rahi, 11th National Metropolis Conference in Calgary, March 20, 2009.http://www.migrantworkersrights.net/en/resources/2011-federal-reform-making-the-canadian-migrant-wo

Rallying To Help (CBC Metro Morning)Guest host Kevin Sylvester spoke with Toronto lawyer Juan Carranza. He is the co-organizer of a fundraiser tonight at Lula Lounge , the event is in support of the families of 10 migrant workers killed in the crash last month in Hampstead, near Stratford.http://www.cbc.ca/metromorning/episodes/2012/03/01/rallying-to-help/